Mounting appratus for slide rail

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus to be selectively connected to a first, a second and a third rack columns. The mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket, two threaded pin secured to the mounting bracket, and two positioning pins respectively capped on the threaded pins. Each of the positioning pins includes a first segment with a greater diameter, and a second segment with a smaller diameter, and extending from an end of the first segment. The first and the second segments of the positioning pins are correspondingly configured to be located in the positioning pins of the first and the second rack columns. The threaded pins are configured to be located in the positioning pins of the third rack column.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatuses and, more particularly, to a mounting apparatus for a slide rail.

2. Description of the Related Art

Certain computer systems, such as computer network systems, typically include many separated computer units that are positioned and stacked in a rack. Slide rail assemblies are provided between the computer units and the rack to enable the computer units to slide in or out of the rack for operation.

A known slide assembly generally includes opposite end brackets, to be rigidly secured to opposite rack columns of the rack. The rack columns of the rack define positioning holes. The end brackets of the slide assembly include associating pins to be inserted into the desired positioning holes of the rack columns to align and hold the slide assembly to the rack columns. There are various configurations of rack columns known in the art. Therefore, one slide assembly cannot be mounted to a particular rack column, which is not specifically designed for the associating pins of the bracket of the slide assembly located therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are exploded, isometric views of an embodiment of a mounting apparatus, but shown in different perspectives.

FIG. 3 is an assembled, isometric view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1 and a first rack column

FIG. 4 is an assembled, isometric view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1 and a second rack column.

FIG. 5 is an assembled, isometric view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1 and a third rack column.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, an embodiment of a mounting apparatus is provided to be selectively mounted to a first rack column 70, a second rack column 80, or a third rack column 90. The first rack column 70 defines a plurality of rectangular positioning holes 72. The second rack column 80 defines a plurality of round positioning holes 82, with a diameter of each positioning hole 82 smaller than each of the sides bounding the positioning holes 72 of the first rack column 70. The third rack column 90 defines a plurality of round threaded positioning holes 92, with a diameter of each positioning hole 92 smaller than the diameter of the positioning holes 82 of the second rack column 80.

The mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket 10, two threaded pins 20, and two positioning pins 30.

The mounting bracket 10 includes a side plate 11 connected to a slide rail (not shown), and an end plate 13 substantially perpendicularly extending from an end of the side plate 11.

The threaded pins 20 are secured to the end plate 13 of the mounting bracket 10, and extend away from the side plate 11.

Each of the positioning pins 30 is stepped, and includes a first segment 32, and a second segment 34 extending from a first end of the first segment 32. The first segment 32 has a greater diameter than the second segment 34. A screw hole 36 is defined in each of the positioning pins 30, and extends though an end of the first segment 32 opposite to the second segment 34. A length of each of the sides bounding the positioning holes 72 of the first rack column 70 is greater than the diameter of the first segment 32 of each of the positioning pins 30. The diameter of the positioning holes 82 of the second rack column 80 is greater than the diameter of the second segment 34 of each of the positioning pins 30, but smaller than the diameter of the first segment 32 of each of the positioning pins 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, to connect the mounting apparatus to the first rack column 70, the positioning pins 30 are screwed to the threaded pins 20, with the threaded pins 20 correspondingly engaged in the screw holes 36 of the positioning pins 30, from the first segments 32 of the positioning pins 30, until an of the first segments 32 of the positioning pins 30 opposite to the second segments 34 abut against the end plate 13 of the mounting bracket 10. The mounting bracket 10 is manipulated to correspondingly insert the positioning pins 30 into two of the positioning holes 72 of the first rack column 70. Because the length of each of the sides bounding the positioning holes 72 of the first rack column 70 is greater than the diameter of the first segment 32 of each of the positioning pins 30, the first segments 32 of the positioning pins 30 are allowed to extend into the positioning holes 72 to be supported on the first rack column 70.

Referring to FIG. 4, to connect the mounting apparatus to the second rack column 80, the mounting bracket 10 is manipulated to correspondingly insert the positioning pins 30 into two of the positioning holes 82 of the second rack column 80. Because the diameter of the positioning holes 82 of the second rack column 80 is greater than the diameter of the second segment 34 of each of the positioning pins 30, but smaller than the diameter of the first segment 32 of each of the positioning pins 30, the first segments 32 of the positioning pins 30 are prevented from extending into the positioning holes 82 of the second rack column 80. The second segments 34 of the positioning pins 30 extend into the positioning holes 82 of the second rack column 80 to be supported on the second rack column 80.

Referring to FIG. 5, to connect the mounting apparatus to the third rack column 90, the positioning pins 30 are rotated to be detached from the threaded pins 20. The mounting bracket 10 is manipulated to correspondingly make the threaded pins 20 extend into two of the positioning holes 92 of the third rack column 90 to be supported on the third rack column 90.

It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the description or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments. 

1. A mounting apparatus to be selectively connected to a first rack column, a second rack column, or a third rack column, respectively defining a positioning hole with a different size, the mounting apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket; a threaded pin extending from the mounting bracket; and a positioning pin detachably to be screwed to the threaded pin, the positioning pin comprising a first segment abutting against the mounting bracket, and a second segment extending from a distal end of the first segment opposite to the mounting bracket, a diameter of the first segment being greater than a diameter of the second segment; wherein the first segment of the positioning pin is configured to extend into the positioning hole of the first rack column, the second segment of the positioning pin is configured to extend into the positioning hole of the second rack column, the threaded pin is configured to extend into the positioning hole of the third rack column.
 2. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket comprising a side plate and an end plate substantially perpendicularly extending from an end of the side plate, the threaded pin is secured to the end plate of the mounting bracket, and extends away from the side plate.
 3. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein a screw hole is defined in the positioning pin, and extends though an end of the first segment of the positioning pin opposite to the second segment. 